The independence of Passive House certifiers

Jessica Eyers was the architectural designer and Passive House designer for this month’s featured case study, a groundbreaking prefab straw home. Jessica ran her own architectural design company from 2012...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2024

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To advance Passive House, stop myth-busting and start reframing

Presentations by Jess Berentson-Shaw from The Workshop were a highlight of this and previous year’s PHINZ conferences. She offers science-based advice on how the Passive House community can most effectively...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Why new H1 requirements impact rammed earth construction

The improvements introduced in 2023 to the H1 Energy Efficiency requirements of the New Zealand Building Code have implications for those wishing to build their homes from some natural building...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Oct 2024

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PHINZ conference highlights solutions to NZ winter energy problem

PHINZ’s annual conference has just finished in Wellington—it was a great weekend and a welcome opportunity to catch up with colleagues-friends.  The programme dived deeply into carbon emissions and how...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Highlights from NZGBC Green Property Summit 2024

I attended the NZGBC Green Property Summit this month. Several presentations stood out. The first was by Sam Archer, who spoke immediately before the Minister of Climate Change—Sam sure put...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2024

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Off-grid PV systems are not carbon-friendly

It’s common for Passive House homes to have solar panels on their roofs. Every Passive House Plus or Passive House Premium project has to generate at least as much energy...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2024

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First US EnerPHit hotel is a beauty

What did you do on your family winter break? I took mine to a PHI-certified EnerPHit hotel, the first of its kind in the US.  I really enjoyed our stay....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Design and build your own Passive House Premium off-grid home

  Maria’s Passive House is in select company whichever way you look at. Few New Zealand Passive projects are rural; only three are certified to Premium performance; it’s believed to...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Jul 2024

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Wildfires also kill people through fine particulate pollution

This paper on PM2.5 pollution caused by wildfires estimates the number of Americans killed by wildfires—not the fire itself but the fine particulate pollution in the smoky air. It has...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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When must windows be open in your Passive House?

As any Passive House homeowner knows, you can open your windows and doors whenever you want. The mechanical ventilation is delivering fresh, filtered, pre-warmed (or cooled) air 24/7 which means...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Jun 2024

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Making certified Passive House tradesperson training even better

Ideas on how to make certified Passive House tradespersons training even better: that’s one of the things I took away from the THRIVE 2024 Passivhaus Conference in Melbourne. UK architect...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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Highlights from the 2024 Thrive Passivhaus Conference

The Thrive 2024 Passivhaus Conference in Melbourne last week was great—here are my highlights. It was well worth nipping across the ditch for two days. (Was I really the only...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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NZGBC lays out emissions reductions through better buildings

NZ Green Building Council’s latest report is well worth reading. In my view, the policy changes it recommends are easy (we could do more). Buildings are capable of delivering about...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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World’s smallest Passive House building?

What and where is the world’s smallest certified Passive House building? I was asked this question today and didn’t know the answer. It turns out my guess was way off. ...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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The right filter matters in your MVHR system

MVHR systems are great but they need the right filters and the right maintenance to do their job well. I draw your attention to a useful article published by Scottish...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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There are lots of different reasons why people build Passive House homes

What motivates people and organisations to build better homes? And how do they afford them? It was interesting to chat with Architype principal Tim Ross this week about the Arthur...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Apr 2024

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Is Passive House actually worth it?

I’m often asked (usually politely): Is building to the Passive House standard actually worth it? Yes it is, is the unequivocal answer. There’s a brilliant summary paper written by Dr...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Build better houses to solve dry year energy problem

Newsflash: using less energy is better than generating more of it. I know that seems obvious given the cost of new electricity generation schemes but it’s even more significantly beneficial...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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